Cigarette package



Patented Nov. 2, 1937 UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE s claim.

This invention relates to cigarette packages and more particularly to a cigarette package having incorporated therewith a supply of matches and means for igniting the same.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved combination of cigarette package and match unit which will be simple and. iiexpensive to produce on a. commercial basis.

A further vobject is to provide a combination which makes use of the conventional cigarette package, no separate container being required for the cigarettes.

Another object is to provide a. construction which results in imparting b ut little increase in weight or size to the conventional cigarette package, but at the same time adding to its rigidity so as to affordprotection to the cigarettes from crushing, not only when the package is full, but also when it is nearly empty.

Another object is to provide a construction which permits the match unit to be removed from the cigarette package withoutinany way mutilating or destroying the package, in case it is desired to use the matches separately.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a cigarette package and attached matches which will have increased advertising value over the conventional package, not only because of the convenience and utility of such a combination, but also because of the additional space available for printed matter.

In the accompanying drawing which illustrates what is now considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the combined cigarette package and match unit without the outer wrapping of transparent material; Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a view in front elevation showing the match unit before attaching to the cigarette package; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view of the complete package with the outer wrapping of transparent material, taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

'I'he cigarette package indicated at 6 is of conventional type, having a foil lining and thin paper wrapping, but lacking the usual outer covering of transparent material. The match unit illustrated in Fig. 3 comprises a backing piece 8 of thin cardboard folded at the top to form a cover l0 and at thebottom to form the striker strip I2 for carrying a'coating of igniting material Mupon which the matches are struck. 'I'he match unit thus resembles the conventional match book, but is somewhat larger, being substantially the size of the front of the cigarette package.

(Cl. zoal-48) A strip of thin, flexible, transparent material, slightly longer .than the circumference of the package 6, and equal in width to the distance between the top and bottom of the match unit, is fastened to the inside surface of the backing piece 8 by a suitable adhesive, leaving the free ends or extensions I6 to be folded around and ysecured to the package.

The matches are the usual strip-type paper matches ordinarily used in match books, and are arranged fan-like in two rows offset vertically so that the heads of thematches in one row do not overlie the heads of the matches in the other row, thereby reducing the thickness of the unit. The back or inside match strip I8 is fastened to the backing piece 8 by wire staple 28 (shown in Fig. 3 in dotted outline) and the front or outer match strip 22 is clamped between striker strip I2 and the backing piece 8 by another wire staple 24, both staples passing through the transparent material already attached to the inside surface of the backing piece 8.

Preferably, the match unit will contain a somewhat greater number of matches than the number of cigarettes in the package, not only to allow for possible dimculties in lighting, but also to afford more uniform thickness of the match unit, simplifying the packing of the completed combination.

The match unit is attached to the cigarette package by the strip of transparent material, the extensions I6 of which are fastened to the sides and back of the package by a suitable adhesive. No adhesive is used between the back 8 of the match unit and the front of the cigarette package, permitting the match unit to be separated from the package, without injury to the cigarette Wrapper or the match unit, merely by tearing the transparent material along the edges 26 of tle match unit.

The combined match unit and cigarette package may be enclosed in an over-all wrapping of transparent material 28 as the nal step in the manufacture of the article. I

It will be readily seen from the foregoing description that the combined cigarette package and match unit possesses numerous novel and improved features. The completed article is only slightly larger, in one dimension only, than the conventional cigarette package. By arranging 'the matches fanwise and in rows of diii'erent heights, the thickness of the match unit is reduced to a minimum.

Another advantage lies in the fact that the conventional cigarette package is used without alteration or modification of any kind. The match unit itself makes use of ordinary paper match strips, further reducing the expense o! manufacture. T'he match unit is so attached to the package as to permit easy removal, yet firmly enough to ail'ord considerable stillness and rigidity to the package. thus protecting the cigarettes from crushing. Also, the matches are arranged in a natural upright position on the cigarette Package.

A combined package and match unit constructed according to the invention s eiiective advertising value through the self-evident utility ot such a combination. Furthermore, the combined package aiiords more space for printed advertising matter than the conventional cigarette package, since only one face is covered by the match unit, the opposite face and both sides being uncovered except by the transparent material, while both the inside and the outside surfaces oi' the cover of the match unit may be used for printing.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the `abovedescribed article without departing from the spirit of the invention, which is not limited to what is shown in the drawing and described in the specication, but only as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A match unit for a cigarette package, the unit comprising matches arranged in inner and outer strips, a mounting for the same consisting of a cardboard backing having a short up-turned lower end forming a striker strip, and a downturned upper end for normally coveringl the matches, a staple passing through the inner strip o! matches and the backing, a second staple passing through the striker strip, outer strip of matches, and backing, and an attachmentband of exible transparent material extending transversely across and beyond the front face of the backing and under the match strips and penetrated by the staples, the ends of the band being adapted to be secured around a cigarette package to attach the unit to the package.

2. A package for cigarettes and the like comprising a wrapping for the cigarettes and a match unit attached thereto, the match unit comprising matches arranged in inner and outer strips, a mounting for the same consisting of a cardboard backing having a short up-turned lower end for forming a striker strip. and a down-turned upper end for normally covering the matches, the inner and outer match row's being oiiset vertically, stapling means for fastening the match strips to the backing, and an attachment band of ilexible transparent material substantially equal in width to the height of the match unit and extending transversely across and beyond the front face of the backing and under the match strips and penetrated by the stapling means, the ends oi' the band encircling the wrapping and being secured thereto.

3. A package for cigarettes and the like comprising a wrapping for the cigarettes and a match unit attached thereto, the match unit being substantially the same height as the side of the Wrapping to which the unit is attached, said unit comprising matches arranged in inner and outer strips, a. mounting for the same consisting of a cardboard backing having a short up-turned lower end for forming a striker strip, and a down-turned upper end i'or normally covering the matches, stapling means for fastening the match strips to the backing, and an attachment band of ilexble transparent material substantially equal in width to the height of the oigarette package and extending transversely across and beyond the front face ot the backing and under the match strips and penetrated by the stapling means, the ends of said band being secured to the wrapping.

JOHN H. HOLLIS. 

